Author: Web Rock Radio News Dept

Afro-rock band Osibisa have confirmed that founding member, singer and saxophonist Teddy Osei has died aged 88.

In a statement on their Facebook page, the band said: “The members of Osibisa, and the band’s management, are deeply saddened by the death today of their dear client and friend Francis ‘Teddy‘ Osei.

“Known the world over as the leader and founder of Osibisa, the groundbreaking Afro-Rock band, he was a talented and passionate, man, musician, and mentor to many. A talented saxophone player, drummer and vocalist, Teddy found success but also fulfilment with his bands, most notably Osibisa.

“His was an important voice in music and culture, and he will be missed, but never forgotten.”

With Osibisa, Ghanaian-born Osei was instrumental in introducing white music audiences to Africa’s infectious Afro-beat sound, finding favour with progressive rock fans for their first few albums in the early 1970s.

A young Roger Dean created the band’s distinctive logo several years before he designed the famous bubble logo for Yes, and also designed the covers for the band’s first two studio albums, 1970’s Osibisa and 1971’s Woyaya, both of which featured his unique flying elephant artwork.

The band had their biggest UK hit with 1975’s Sunshine Day (from that year’s Welcome Home album) which reached No. 17 and also featured in Richard Linklater’s 2014 Academy Award-winning film Boyhood.

Born Francis Osei in 1939 in Kumasi in the Ashanti region of Ghana, and named after Ashanti King Osei Tutu, the young Osei thrived in a musical environment at home. At college he taught himself saxophone by listening to jazz records, when the intended saxophonist in a band he was trying to form failed to show up for rehearsals.

Having achieved some success. Ghana with his band the Comets, Osei left for London in 1962, studying music and drama on a grant from the Ghanaian government and forming soul outfit Cat’s Paw. In 1969, along with his brother Mac Tontoh and Sol Amarfio from Cat’s Paw, Osei formed Osibisa, joined by Antiguan Wendell (Dell) Richardson (lead guitar and lead vocalist), Nigerian Lasisi Amao (percussionist), Grenadian Roger Bedeau, also known as Spartacus R (bass), and Trinidadian Robert Bailey (keyboards).

The band’s early success waned as the 1980s dawned but the band continued to tour and record. Osei suffered a stroke in 2010 and was forced to cut back on touring but remained active in the studio.

In 2020 the band released Sunshine Day: The Boyhood Sessions – capitalising on the Linklater connection – and in 2021 they released a new studio album, New Dawn, which saw Osei and fellow founding member Robert Bailey working together once again, alongside long-standing member Gregg Kofi Brown.

Drummer and founding member Sol Amarfio died at the age of 84 in December 2022.

Alt-rock icons Swervedriver have released their first new music in five years. Volume Control, which features Swervedriver’s usual widescreen guitarscape alongside an appropriately epic string orchestration, comes from the upcoming EP The World’s Fair, which will be released on March 7.

“We haven’t really done an EP since our days with Creation,” says frontman Adam Franklin. “I have no idea why it was the done thing back then, but it was a cool way to present your music with no sort of commitment to direction.

“You could just go off on one on any song if you wanted, and that’s what we wanted to do again here. I’ve always consumed music via singles anyway and was always partial to a good B-side or three.”

The EP, which contains the band’s first new material since 2019’s Future Ruins album, contains four tracks, two of which were recorded with Ride frontman Mark Gardener in Oxford, and two with YouTube personality and avowed Swervedriver nut Rick Beato at his Black Dog Sound Studio in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Last month, Beato – who has 4.7 million YouTube subscribers – released a video entitled “Even Pro Musicians Can’t Figure Out This Song!” in which Franklin showed him how to play a number of Swervedriver classics including Duel, Girl On A Motorbike and Planes Over The Skyline.

The World’s Fair EP will be released on orange vinyl 12″, as well as a limited edition red vinyl version that comes with a postcard. The latter is only available via mail order, but both editions can be pre-ordered from Swervedriver’s Bandcamp page.

Swervedriver: The World’s Fair EP tracklist

Pack Yr Vision
Volume Control
The World’s Fair
Time Attacks

Toto has responded to Rob Lowe’s claim that he cut a demo with the band in the ’80s.

On the Jan. 9 episode of his Literally podcast, the actor casually mentioned to Bill Simmons, executive producer of HBO’s Yacht Rock documentary, that he’d considered transitioning from acting to music.

“There was a minute in the ’80s where I was definitely doing too much Bolivian marching powder and just being a fucking lunatic,” Lowe recalled. “Coming at the time in a young actor’s career where they’re too old to play the roles they’ve been playing, but they’re too young to play the roles that will last you the rest of your life, which are really the great ones.”

“I love music so much,” he continued, “that I got it into my head that maybe I should think more about music. And I cut a demo with Toto.”

READ MORE: The ’80s Brat Pack: Where Are They Now?

Lowe’s comment caught people’s attention and had many fans wondering how his collaboration with Toto happened. When UCR reached out to the band for comment, Toto spokesperson Steve Karas offered some clarity.

‘The Reporting Is Not Accurate’

“Toto as a band never did as session with Rob Lowe,” he explained, adding that guitarist Steve Lukather was blindsided by the sudden attention surrounding Lowe’s story. “The reporting is not accurate.”

According to Toto’s spokesperson, Lowe spent one afternoon in the studio with just two of the band’s members – David Paich and Steve Porcaro. All of the Toto musicians have impressive resumes as session players, having worked with some of the biggest names in music. Paich and Porcaro were working on a project outside of the band when a producer suggested they try Lowe behind the mic. The endeavor proved fruitless and a true collaboration never took shape.

Though absent for all of this, Lukather did confirm he spent time with Lowe “once in 1985 in Japan and hasn’t seen him since.”

Toto Albums Ranked Worst to Best

Countless high school buddies have started their own bands, but few achieved the level of enduring success enjoyed by the guys in Toto.

Gallery Credit: Jeff Giles

More From Ultimate Classic Rock

January 14, 2025, 14 minutes ago

news hard rock tommy lee motley crue

Mötley Crüe drummer, Tommy Lee, has a problem with artists promoting their music and live dates during the Los Angeles wildfire crisis. The fires have destroyed entire neighbourhoods and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes.

Says Lee in his instagram post: “Makes me fucking sick to see most people just caring on a posting on lame ass social media! Guys right now nobody gives a flying fuck when your record drops or the next concert is when so many people are in the middle of one of the biggest disasters of all time! I get that some comic relief is always need but Jesus Christ leave it all alone and maybe just stop and see who needs help if you can.”

Mötley Crüe are returning to the Las Vegas strip for the “Las Vegas Residency”, a limited run of shows at Park MGM between March 28 – April 19, 2025.

A portion of ticket proceeds for “Las Vegas Residency” will be donated to Nevada Partnership For Homeless Youth through Mötley Crüe’s Giveback Initiative and Live Nation.

Tickets are on sale now. For travel packages, hotel, and ticket info, head here. Watch a video trailer below:

Siberian atmospheric black metal sensation, Grima, strikes back with second single “Flight Of The Silver Storm”, cut from their sixth studio album and Napalm Records debut Nightside, to be released on February 28. “Flight Of The Silver Storm” paints a sonic picture of a dark and mystical journey through an icy, eerie landscape engulfed by a merciless snowstorm. The melancholic sound evokes feelings of cold and loneliness and follows a wanderer’s perilous yet alluring escape into the unknown, all underlined by a visually palpable official music video.

After several shows across Europe, including some with fast-rising German death metal force Kanonenfieber, Grima are set to honor the spirit of the Siberian Forest, Taiga, once more on Nightside. In addition to their unforgettable sound, the band’s look – towering like living trees with intimidating carved wooden masks and branched fingers – adds another haunting element to their brutal yet beautiful output.

Grima about the new single “Flight Of The Silver Storm”: “‘Flight Of The Silver Storm’ is a sorrowful legend meant to warn those who have lost their fear of nature’s dangers, believing they have unraveled all its mysteries and conquered it to a degree where it does not present danger any longer. The song tells the story of a traveler who boldly sets out to cross an unfamiliar forest under the cover of night, confident that the starry sky will guide his way. Yet, as soon as he descends into the depths of the woods, he falls prey to an unstoppable storm. The silver folds of its flowing gown obscure the map of the night sky from the arrogant fool who only moments before was certain he held his fate in his hands.”

Watch the official music video for “Flight Of The Silver Storm”

Showing their variety within the black metal genre on their upcoming full-length Nightside, v also incorporate death metal-like growls into their delivery on tracks like “Impending Death Premonition” and showcase focused effort and skill on the album’s more brief, accessible offerings. “Beyond The Dark Horizon” and “Curse Of The Void” are as dreamy and complex as their big brothers, but also as satisfying as more direct black metal anthems. With their mysterious visual aura and intriguing sound inspired by the unforgiving nature around them, Grima continue to prove themselves as an unmissable band to watch within the genre!

Mixing, mastering, and helming Nightside’s harsh, powerful but also clear-as-an-icicle sound is black metal-experienced producer Vladimir Lehtinen. The two driving forces behind the band’s unique sound, Vilhelm and Morbius, both deliver different aspects of the band’s impactful, massive guitar riffs, leads and melodies, while Vilhelm also soars as the voice of the woods. Guest musicians Vlad (drums) and Serpentum (guitars) also join the fold both in studio and on stage.

Grima about the album: “Grima is a secretive cult devoted to an ancient, long-forgotten Siberian forest deity, lying in wait, shrouded within the endless embrace of the Taiga. Our music is a ritual of reverence to the ancient magic of the forest, an endless dance of mysterious entities and ancient spirits, a beautiful and terrifying legend cloaked in the form of Siberian Atmospheric Black Metal. Nightside is a mysterious and melodic recording, infused with the mesmerizing cold of the Siberian night wilderness—brutal, yet equally beautiful and irresistibly alluring. A mysterious nocturnal land where winds slam the shutters of cabins in abandoned villages, guiding stars only lead you deeper into the silver storm, and a dead man is knocking his claw on an ancient pine, counting down the remaining time of yet another lost.”

Nightside will be available in the following formats:

– 1LP Gatefold Night Blue – limited to 300 copies worldwide (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
– 1LP Gatefold Black
– 1 CD Digisleeve
– Digital Album

Pre-order here.

Nightside tracklisting:

“Intro (Cult)”
“Beyond the Dark Horizon”
“Flight of the Silver Storm”
“Skull Gatherers”
“Impending Death Premonition”
“The Nightside”
“Where We Are Lost”
“Curse of the Void”
“Mist and Fog”
“Outro (Memories of a Forgotten Home)”

“Skull Gatherers” video:

Grima is:

Vilhelm – vocals, guitars
Morbius – guitars

(Photo – Mikhail Yuyukin, Viktor Shkarov, Marat Zaborovskiy)

Iggy Pop will release Live At Montreux Jazz Festival 2023 on January 24 via earMUSIC on Blu-ray+CD Digipak, 2LP (Black) Gatefold and Digital Download.

“Modern Day Ripoff” (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2023) is the new single from the upcoming release. Watch the official video below, stream/download the single here, and pre-order the album here.

On July 6, 2023 Iggy Pop returned to the Montreux Jazz Festival backed by a seven-piece band and thrilled a capacity Stravinski Auditorium crowd with a career-spanning set including tracks from his time with The Stooges, his Idiot and Lust For Life albums, New Values leading up to his recent release Every Loser.

There has never been an artist on stage quite like Iggy Pop and here he has never been better. With a band as versatile and acrobatic as the artist himself, there is everything from the glorious primitivism of Stooges-era “I Wanna Be Your Dog” and “T.V. Eye”, the swagger of “Lust For Life”, the precise metronomic drone of ‘Nightclubbing”, and the full-on unleashed rock fury of the recent “Modern Day Ripoff” and “Frenzy”.

“I give something extra every time I do Montreux Jazz. In ’23 it was deep cuts like ‘Mass Production’, ‘Endless Sea’, ‘Five Foot One’ and a hell of a lot of sweat.” – Iggy Pop

This most comprehensive live collection catches up with Iggy as he continues to win over generations of new fans and perform at the highest level his lifelong devotees have come to expect.

It marked Iggy’s third appearance at the festival and his monumental performance was recorded and filmed by the Montreux Jazz Festival team.

Tracklisting:

“Five Foot One”
“T.V. Eye”
“Modern Day Ripoff”
“Raw Power”
“Gimme Danger”
“The Passenger”
“Lust For Life”
“Endless Sea”
“Death Trip”
“Sick Of You”
“I Wanna Be Your Dog”
“Search And Destroy”
“Mass Production”
“Nightclubbing”
“Down On The Street”
“Loose”
“Frenzy”

“The Passenger” video:

“Five Foot One” video:

Wolfheart have unveiled an evocative music video for “Burning Sky”, a single from their latest album released on September 7, 2024 via RPM. This release coincides with their extensive Draconian Darkness tour across Finland, other parts of Europe, and Saudi Arabia.

The Finnish melodic death metal band’s tour has been a monumental part of their journey, taking them through familiar and uncharted regions to perform their intensely melancholic tunes. The video serves as a visual recap, highlighting the tour’s most memorable moments for those who attended the live shows and those yet to see the band live.

“Our latest European tour was definitely one for the books in our career and it just felt right to shoot footage from several shows during the tour. Measured in all ways, it was the most successful tour and it was profoundly amazing to get to play new songs from Draconian Darkness live and to see the fantastic reactions of the audience night after night,” recalls vocalist/guitarist Tuomas Saukkonen.

“Burning Sky” starts with a stirring acoustic guitar intro that gradually builds anticipation. It seamlessly transitions into the band’s signature heavy sound, progressing the dynamic tune step by step. Pounding drums then abruptly awaken listeners from their serene reverie, transforming the song into a powerhouse exemplar of fierce Northern metal majesty.

Watch below:

Draconian Darkness was recorded at Deep Noise Studios and produced, mixed and mastered by the band’s long-time collaborator Saku Moilanen; its artwork was crafted by Nikos Stavridakis (VisionBlack). Order/stream the album here.

(Photo – Reigning Phoenix Music)

The 9th Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala will now transform to a 2025 fundraising telethon to help raise money for displaced families of the recent Los Angeles County wildfires.

The Gala will be held January 22 at the Grand Theater, Anaheim, CA. A Celebrity Red Carpet will take place at 7 PM, and the Telethon’s Induction Ceremony, Live Performances, and All -Star Jams will commence 8 PM.

Rockstars, celebrities, music executives, supercross motorcycle racing stars, and surprise guests will join forces at the Gala to help this great cause. Radio/television legend Eddie Trunk and entertainment personality Cathy Rankin will host the event. Poison’s Rikki Rockett, Kill Devil Hill, former Megadeth members Chris Poland and Jeff Young, Southern California’s Alibis, and Rochester New York band Wicked will perform, along with All-Star Jams and surprise performances.

A direct live stream link to a disaster relief fund will be provided the day of the Gala, here. 100% of all funds raised from the livestream link will be donated to the Los Angeles County wildfire victims, to help them re-establish their lives once again.

“The 9th Annual Metal Hall of Fame Charity Gala means more than ever, as we turn it into a fundraising/livestream event to help the victims of the of Los Angeles County wildfires,” says Pat Gesualdo, President/ CEO of the Metal Hall of Fame.

2025 Metal Hall Of Fame Inductees:

– Darrell Dimebag Abbott (20th year memoriam, with surprise guests)
– Rikki Rockett (Poison, inducted by Siriusxm/Hair Nation’s Tommy London)
– Tony Macalpine
– Dangerous Toys
– Life Of Agony
– Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy)
– Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein (Misfits)  
– Cannibal Corpse
– Burton C. Bell (Fear Factory)  
– Jeff Young (Megadeth/ Kings Of Thrash)

Get tickets here to attend in person.

The Metal Hall of Fame is a non profit organization, dedicated to forever enshrining the iconic musicians and music industry executives responsible for making hard rock and heavy metal music what it is today. Their contribution to the genre is invaluable, and they continue to inspire fans throughout the world, from generation to generation.

Every January, industry executives and fans attend the Metal Hall of Fame Gala (“The most important night in hard rock and heavy metal”). All proceeds go to bringing free music programs to help special needs children.

For more information, please contact the Metal Hall of Fame at 973-263-0420, or info@themetalhalloffame.org.